Coal-mining machine



(No Model.) 2 sheetsfsneet y1.

C. H. WOLFORD. GOAL MINING MACHINE.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Mode1.)

C. H. WO-LFORD. 00A-I. MINING MACHINE.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER H. lVOLFORD, OF CORRY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I-IALFTO JAMES A. ANDERSON, OF BEDFORD, OHIO.

ooAL-lvnNlNc MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,476, dated January13, 1891.

i Application filed May 23, 1890. Serial No. 352.932. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER H. WOL- FORD, of Corry, in the county ofErie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Coal-Mining Machines; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in coal-mining machines; and itconsists in cer- 't'ain features of construction and in combination ofparts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is afront end elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan. Figi/t is an enlarged endelevation of the cutting mechanism. Fig. 5 shows side elevations indetail of the cutters.

A represents a forked metal standard or frame, the legs thereofdiverging downward, these legs being bent forward, as shown, andterminating in boxes A', in which is j ournaled axle A2, the latterhaving attached wheels A3 for supporting and moving the structure.

To the upper end of the standard or frame is rigidly attached theforwardly-projecting shaft a, on which shaft is mounted sleeve B.

On the sleeve is mounted a worm-gear C, that engages a worm c, the shaftof the latter being journaled in suitable boxes connected with thesupporting-frame, this shaft being provided with a hand-crank c' foroperating the worm.

Sleeve B has laterally-projecting lugs B' bored vertically for receivingloosely sleeves D. These sleeves are preferably integral with gears D',that rest on top of the lugs, these sleeves being provided with collarsD2, -engaging the under sides of the lugs. Sleeves D are screw-threadedinternally for engaging the screw-threads of shafts E E. Hence byturningr these sleeves shafts E E are raised or lowered. The gears Dengage gears d, the lat-ter being mounted on upright rods connected withlugs B. Gears d on top have beveled teeth CZ' for engagingbeveledpinions 5o ff, the latter being mounted in common on shaft F. This shaftis provided with a handwheel F' for operating the same. The shaft F issupported by arms B2, the latter being attachments of lng B; usually,or, if preferred, these arms may connect with sleeve B. \Vith suchconstruction it is evident that by operating-wheelF' shaftsEE may beraised orlowered in unison, and by operating crank c' shafts E E may beswung in a vertical plane, and may be made to stand at any desiredangle. Shafts E terminate in heads E', these heads being boredhorizontally to receive and provide journal-bearingsfor shaft G. Thisshaft is provided with a gear G', the latter engaging pinion I'I ofmotor-shaft H'. Preferably an electric motor H2 is employed, themotor--Y frame being rigidly secured to shafts E E. The electric wires hconnecting with the motor should have sufcient slack to enable themachine to be moved and operated as may be required. Shafts E areconnected by one or more cross-bars E2, these shafts and the crossbarsconstituting a rigid frame, and the shafts constituting the legs of suchframe.

I is a cylinder or large tube, say, ten inches (more or less) indiameter and, say, ive or six feet (more or less) in length. This tubehas a solid head at the rear end for attaching it to the forward end ofshaft G. Tube I is provided externally with a spiral rib I' fordischarging the chips. The forward end ofthe tube is provided with aseries of cutters L, these cutters having preferably the same spiraltrend as the rib I'. Any number of these cutters may employed, more orless, according to circumstances.

A preferable construction of the cutters is shown, each cuttercomprising a shank L', adapted to lit the outside of the tube I, towhich it may be secured by screws Z, the heads of these screws beingcountersunk flush with the inner surface of the tube. These cuttersshould have shoulders Z' for engaging the end of the tube, whereby theend-thrust of the cutters is sustained7 and preferably the end of thetube is notched to receive these shoulders. The points of the cuttersshould resemble the points of a pick rather than a chisel, as the designis to break out small pieces of coal with these cutters rather than toscrape or cut the coal. The points of the cutters do not travel in thesame path, but are respectively deflected out or in, so as to cut agroove that will clear the tube and rib I. The tube will likely havewalls about threesixteenths or a quarter of an inch in thickness, andthe spiral rib will likely be of about the saine thickness, so that agroove, say, fiveeighths or three-quarters of an inch wide will besufficient for the purpose.

In undermining a body of coal with a pick a large quantity of coal isbroken so fine that it is ot little value, whereas with my improvedmachine a solid core of coal is left uninjured inside the tube.

The standard or frame A is provided with rearwardly-projeeting handles aa for operating the machine, and as the machine is nearly balanced onwheels A the operator has no difficulty in managing the machine, whichis forced forward by hand to cause the cutters to engage the wall ofcoal. IVhen one hole has been made, say, the length of cylinder I, themachine is backed out, and a series of holes may be iliade side bysideso close together as to cut the one into the other, thus forming acontinuous chamber for breaking down the coal from above; also, byoperating crank c the tube I may be turned laterally or the swingingframe may be reversed, so that holes may be eut several feet from thedoor, and by manipulating hand wheel F the sweep of tube I may beincreased or diminished-that is, the swinging frame may be lengthened orshortened.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with a coal-mining machine, of aframe, a shaft secured to the upper end ot' this frame, sleevesrevolubly supported by the shaft, screwthreaded rods` passing throughthe sleeves, a drill secured to the rods, and means for turning thesleeves, whereby the rods and drill are raised or lowered relatively tothe frame,substantially as set forth.

i. The combination, with a frame, a shaft projecting from the upper endof the latter, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft and lugs connectedwith the said sleeve, and sleeves revolubly supported by the lugs, of adrill, threaded rods extending therefrom into the rotary sleeves, andgearing for swinging the sleeve on the shaft and for rotating thesleeves in the lugs, whereby the drill maybe swung laterally and beraised or lowered, substantially as set forth.

The combination, with a frame mounted on suitable rollers or wheels andhaving handles thereon, a shaft projecting from the upper end of theframe, a sleeve loosely mounted on the shaft, a worm-gear mounted on theSleeve, and a worin for operating with this worm-gear. whereby thesleeve is rocked, of a hollow drill, a motor, gearing for communicatingmotion from the motor to the drill, screw-threaded rods extending upwardfrom the drill, revolubly-supported sleeves through which the rods pass,and gearing for rotating said sleeves, whereby the drill is raised orlowered, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of twowitnesses, this 9th day of May, 1890.

CHRISTOPHER II. VVOLFORD.

Witnesses:

CHAs. H. Donna, WARD HOOVER.

